Not AvailableShiitake [Lentinula edodes (Berk) Pegler] mushroom (SM) has
evolved into an important specialty food owing to its high
nutritional content and medicinal properties. Progress on
genetic improvement is limited due to a narrow genetic base.
Genetic divergence and variability in 19 strains of SM were
analyzed. Cultivation trials were conducted under environmentally controlled conditions suitable for growing L. edodes on
synthetic logs. Mahalanobis distance (D2
) and cluster analysis
using Tocher’s method was used to ascertain genetic diversity.
Heritability, genetic advance and components of variances were
determined through variability studies. Genotypes were clustered into three major groups based on yield and yield attributing traits. The strains took an average period of 85 days from
incubation to first fruiting; DMRO-388s had the shortest duration of 50 days. Days from incubation to first fruiting exhibited
high heritability (97.76%) with fair genetic advance (22.83) having substantial practical utility for selection in L. edodes. Cluster
analysis for shiitake improvement predicted the most promising
crosses would be between DMRO-23×DMRO-388s, DMRO34×DMRO-623, and DMRO-35×DMRO-388s. The DMRO-388s
and DMRO-327 strains can be successfully cultivated on wheat
straw based substrate due its quick colonization abilities. The
pre-incubation period using a sawdust based cultivation system
appears to shorten the cropping cycle of L. edodes which has
economic implications.Not Availabl
